Page 121 of The Fiancé Hoax

I snuggled against his body. “It will be so cute to see the girls with the baby. Do you think they’ll want a little brother or a little sister?”

Cooper thought for a second. “It won't matter. Lily will fall in love with the kid no matter what. And Eva will be happy to have someone new to take under her wing.”

I giggled. “You’re right.”

The bedroom door swung open, and Eva and Lily walked in the room. At first, I panicked, pulling the covers up, even though we were both wearing pajamas. But Cooper remained calm, and I followed suit.

Eva and Lily froze in surprise as they realized I was in bed with Cooper. Then Eva moved closer with Lily following. They stood at the foot of the bed.

“Good morning, girls,” Cooper said with a smile. He sat up in bed, and I did, too. “You're up early.”

“No, you're just late, Daddy,” Eva said. “We always get up early on Saturdays to watch cartoons.”

“Right,” Cooper said sheepishly.

They were silent for a moment. Lily looked between Cooper and me.

“Do you two love each other?” she asked us.

Cooper grinned. “Yes. Very much so.”

I nodded beside him. “Yes, I love your dad.”

Eva tilted her head and looked at me. “Felicity, does this mean you're going to stay forever?”

I smiled at her. “I have no plans to leave.”

Eva and Lily exchanged excited looks. Then Lily came closer to me. “Are you going to be our mommy?”

I hesitated, touched by her sweet, innocent question, but unsure how to answer. I spoke gently.

“Well, Gen will always be your mother. But I love you both very much. And I will be here for you in any way that you want.”

Lily thought about that, then her face lit up.

“Okay.”

She climbed on the bed and crawled into my lap, lacing her arms around my neck. I held her close, smoothing her blonde hair and kissing her head.

Eva surprised me by climbing up next to her sister and reaching her arms toward me. I hugged and kissed them both, my heart filling with joy.

“I’m glad you’re going to stay, Felicity,” Eva said. Lily nodded her agreement.

“Me, too,” I said, laughing through the tears that made my vision watery. “So happy.”

Eva gave her dad a knowing smile, but she didn’t say anything.

“All right, you hooligans,” Cooper said. “Who wants pancakes for breakfast?”

“Me!” Eva and Lily shouted in unison.

* * *

“Oh, good. You're still alive,” Lauren answered my phone call sarcastically. “I’ve been texting and calling you like crazy.”

I stood in the kitchen, leaning on the island. I’d taken the opportunity after breakfast to call Lauren on my cell.

Cooper was playing with Eva and Lily in the living room, and Inga had just arrived for her shift.

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